The Baggies trailed at every change in a time-reduced contest, the result of a severe neck injury to Natimuk ruckman Bryce Hateley in the opening minute of the match.

Swifts Board of Management chairman Brian Barber said due to more than 30 minutes of football being lost while waiting for an ambulance, both teams could have been awarded two points each and ended the match as a draw.

However, both coaches agreed to play the match, albeit in a reduced timeframe. Four quarters of 20 minutes were played, without time-on. Barber said play recommenced at 3.02pm.

``Both teams, to their credit, said we're here for a game so we'll play a game,'' Barber said.

``Both teams could have said they have had enough, but everybody was stripped and ready to play so we did it.''

In hindsight, the decision may have been a wrong one for Swifts as Natimuk kicked away to a 19 point lead by quarter time which was reduced to 18 at half time. The Rams then kicked three goals to one in the third term before extending their lead in the last to win by 37 points.

Barber said Swifts coach Jamie Britten, who left the field in the first half due to his troublesome hamstring injury, was extremely frustrated with his team's performance.

``Jamie was a little bit perplexed and confused as to why we thought we were going to be really competitive but didn't happen on the field,'' Barber said.

``With the team we put on the ground, he was disappointed we didn't show more.''

Ricky Whitehead was named the Baggies' best ahead of Nick Pickering and Brett Hargreaves. Jake Goodes also returned to the side from a hamstring injury.

Noradjuha-Quantong thumped Edenhope-Apsley by 153 points on Saturday, Kalkee easily accounted for Rupanyup by 63 points, Laharum beat Pimpinio by 92 points and Harrow-Balmoral won by 87 points against Taylors Lake.

Natimuk will ask the HDFL to investigate the incident which left Hateley with a fractured vertebrae in his neck.

The injury happened after a ruck contest between Hateley and Swifts Sam Cooper.